Thursday, August 16, 2012

Feng Shui

“If there is light in
the soul there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person
there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the
nation there will be peace in the world.” Ancient Chinese ProverbThe History of Feng
Shui
Feng Shui (pronounced
fung shway) is an ancient practice that originated from China
and is more than 3,000 years old. The word Feng comes from the Chinese word for
wind and the word Shui from the
Chinese word for water. The practice
of this ancient art is intended to balance the invisible energies within an
inhabited space in order to maintain the good health of those who live there.
Feng Shui is rooted in the Taoist understanding of nature
which centers on the idea that the world and the environment we live in is
alive and full of chi or energy. In ancient China
it was believed that the energy of the environment could make a land prosperous
or bring about its ruin.How Feng Shui Works
The theory and practice of Feng Shui is concerned with the balance
of yin and yang and the five elements of Feng Shui. Yin and yang are the two
interacting forces that sustain the cosmos. Yin is the female aspect and yang
the male. The balance of these two energies brings order to the chaos of the
universe. The five elements include wood, fire, metal, earth and water.
According to the principles of this ancient art, if you want
to improve your career, increase you wealth or attract a new partner you will
be able to do so by ridding your home of clutter, rearranging your furniture
and adding new colors and materials to your rooms.
The main tools of Feng Shui practice are the compass and the
Ba-Gua or octagonal grid containing the symbols of the I Ching. The I Ching is
the ancient Chinese oracle on which Feng Shui is based. The compass, also known
as lo-pan, will be your guide to defining the ba-gua of your home so that you
can develop a deeper understanding of favorable and unfavorable Feng Shui
areas, connect specific areas to specific people in your life and develop Feng
Shui elements needed in specific areas.
The Feng Shui compass consists of a magnetic needle around
which are placed up to forty concentric rings of information. The base of the
compass is traditionally red as this is an auspicious color in Chinese culture;
it also helps to protect the compass’s energy.
You should take the first compass reading while you are
inside the house looking out from the front door. You should take several
readings from similar spots so that you can rule out any interference from
electromagnetic fields. Once you have taken a few readings from inside at
different distances from the front door you can then take one from outside. The
purpose of taking a reading looking out your front door is to get an accurate
reading of which way your house is facing.
When you have obtained an accurate reading, you can work
out the positions of all your rooms relative to the compass. Once this
is done
you will be able to work on your ba-gua energy plan for you whole living
space. The image below shows a ba-gua plan which can help you
to balance the chi in your home.
As you can see, the plan is a detailed guide to what colors
you can place in different areas and what those directional zones symbolize. Here
are some tips for using Feng Shui at home:

Have a
well designed storage system so that none of your rooms are cluttered.
Clutter impedes the balance and flow of chi throughout your home.

Always
keep the front entrance clear and use it. Don’t be tempted to use the back
door or the garage door all the time.

Keep
unseasonable clothes stored away rather than having them lying around or
hanging in your closet.

Fix
any broken appliances or get rid of them. This will increase your energy.

Use a
round dining table as this will promote unity. You should have an even
number of dining chairs to maintain balance.

Choose
a wooden bed rather than a metal one as these are healthier because metal
beds conduct electricity.

Do not
have any appliances near your bed.

If you
are having problems sleeping, remove any large mirrors or large living
plants from the bedroom.

Place
your headboard against the most solid wall in the room.

To
calm the nerves in any room use sandalwood, neroli and lavender oils or
scented candles.

To
stimulate and refresh use fresh citrus smells such as orange, lemon and
mint. If you want to elevate your mood, use jasmine, basil or sage.

Let’s say you wanted to use Feng Shui in your office, here
are some tips:

Arrange
any awards or certificates in the south area (this is the area of
celebrity and fame). It is also auspicious to place a photograph of a
celebrity that you admire in this area.

Family
photos should be placed on the east side of your office as this is the
family area.

Reference
or text books should be placed in the zone of knowledge and
self-development, which is in the northeast.

Keep
new projects on the east side of your desk as this area symbolizes spring
and new growth.

Any
checks or money waiting to be deposited in the bank should be stored in
the west side of your desk as this symbolizes harvest and abundance.